Her Neglect, My Undying Haunted Soul

raham

air in the opulent living room, usually so stifling, crackled with an unfamiliar t

per, was a whip-crack. "How dare you speak of your daughter

stering shock. "Mother, don't be dramatic. Eva

gh the room. "She is your child, Hilda! And you speak of her as if she were a troublesome

ould close their eyes. She do

ice trembling now. "And you, Hilda, you have always tormented her. A

er. She always has been. It's not my fault i

r under your roof, Hilda, and you've driven your own flesh and blood away. Now,

fted uncomfortably in his seat. He was her silent accomplice,

on a luxury glamping trip, a forced attempt at togetherness. I, ever the desper

cliff edge, and she'd feigned a twisted ankle, screaming that I had push

king my face. The sting was nothing compared to the pain

The storm had rolled in quickly, the wind whipping my hair, the rain blinding me. I'

But she never did. Carina had their phone. Carina had answered one of my desperate pleas, heard my screams, and then hung up.

cage, complaining to Gwendoly

Gwendolyn's concerns with a wave of her hand. "She's always been so dramatic. She probably

as never even in

d. When I was small, after you and Father decided I was a burden, she took me

e, as if I were a stranger. You'd ask polite questions, then quickly turn your attention to

," I was ecstatic. I thought it meant you wanted me. I packed

gadgets, the private tutors. Kellan had his sports cars and endless allowances. I had hand-me-downs and a tiny room tuc

birthday. Carina got a pony that year. I got a lecture on fis

h Carina, despite her constant barbs. I was a ghost in my own home, desperate for

ought their approval. The longing h

I am warning you. If Eva is not at my jubilee, I will donate every penny

nstructed facade, her financial security. She glanced at Iain, a silent plea f

," Iain said, a weak attempt at defiance. "Eva is al

I only ever wa

tight with suppressed fury. "I'll track her down. If she thi

e tried my number again, then my old email, then social media.

the phone onto a plush sofa cushion. "She's compl

phone, finally looked up. "Maybe she'll show up for

his eyes, quickly extinguished as he

k so?" Hilda asked, a sliver of hope in he

inging to it like a life raft. A wave

witched channels, let out a

a section of the New England National Park after significant findings were made in a remote ravine. While details are sca

e wind. A dark, jagged crevice was visible in the distance. The very place I ha